Rerolling Boardgames : Introduction

An edited collection that focuses upon transporting games beyond the digital seems an odd precept, given that the advent of videogames stems from the 1950s. Boardgames are not new to the gaming world. A frieze from from approx 4000 BC contains a glyph depicting Senet, whilst an image of Nefertari playing the game is prominent within her tomb. Go is thought to have originated between 3000 - 4000 years ago. The internationalism of images, references and depictions of boardgames demonstrates that gaming was a universal activity, and from this it is not unrealistic to see boardgames crossing cultures, passing along across trade routes and gift exchanges. If play is universal, then the desire to share different ways of playing, or draw people together around an object like a board, appears to follow as a natural byproduct of human curiosity, companionship and competition. However, whilst these games are in themselves masterpieces of strategy and depth, it is not until recently that boardgaming has expanded in multiple new directions, creating a far more diverse genre than before. In this introduction, we outline our precepts for this book, as well as introducing our thinking behind the collection of articles about this vibrant, hugely popular genre of gaming.